ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1564, 7 October 1912, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OSCAR ASCH&-LILY BKAYTON ■■ SEASON. At tho Opera House to-night at 7.45 sharp, 3lr. Oscar ,Asclio, Miss Lily Brayton, and their complete London Company will begin an eighteen nights' season in a production of the'great Oriental dramatic spectacle, "Kisraot." A full lighting and scenic rehearsal vrae successfully carried out on Saturday ore-ning. Jtr. Ascho nuct the members of the company arrived frum Auckland per special train la«t evening. Although the booking is excellent, (hero nre, it is stated, seats in central position;, in tho stalls for the opening ■and subsequent performances of "Kismet," which can l>6 selected at the Dresden. Early ilcor tickets for the gallory and hack stalls may be purchased at Christeson's. Tho u:ngnitnde of the production, of "Kismet," 1 and tho artistic manner in wliicli.it was presented in London, Australia, and Auckland have won for Mr. Asche a nnmo nmongst the world's most famous producers. The author of tho piece lias furr.ished it ivifh nn intensely interesting story. It embraces the morning, noon, eve rod night in the life of Hajj (Mr. Oscnr Asclie), during- which period he ascends from beggardom to dizzy power, falls igain, and is left when the curtain defends again at his beggar's corner. But in between he has killed his life-long >nemy_, and that enemy's son, and so satis--sed his vongeonce, and has seen hie dsugliter happily married to the highest man in the.land. Mr. Asclie has, it is stated, :au.?ht the spirit, tlie light, Hie movement )f the Orient in a positively bewildering .ray. ■ The colouring is stated to bo inde•cribable ' in its richness, its warmth, and its wonderful blending. The lighting is a ipecial feature of the production, which s.staged under tho personal supervision >f 3tr. Aseli-v iriss Lily Brajton, who ivill make her fiist appearance here as Warsinah. has shared in all Jfr. Asche's [reatest triumphs, and critics elsewhere ire unanimous in praises of her histrionic lowers as a dramatic artist. "Tho Tamins; if the Shrew," "The Merchant of Venice," 'Othello." an-l "The Merry Wives of IVindsor", will also, be-staged.

THE NEW THEATKJ3: Crowded attendances throughout Saturday afte.-noon nnd evening evidenced the popularity of the New Theatre continuous pictures. The Pasquali Company's impressive domestic dramatisation, "The Murder of a Soul," will be shown for the last time to-day and to-night, together with the supporting programme, which includes the Eclair Company's delightful romance, "Golrbn Hair. The customary complete chan.j? is advertised for to-mar-row, ivhe l a attraction will be presented in an elaborate moving picture interpretation of Sir Walter Scott's e-iijov-aWe work, "The Talisman." The Cines Company are eaid to have excelled themselves in the production of "Th> Talisman," in which spectacular effects are conspicuous. This "feature" will te presented for three days and nights, commencing tomorrow.

.. THE KING'S THEATHk "A Fntal Performance" will bo West's star' attraction at the King's Tlicutre this evening. The picture presents many circus scenes of love, .hatred and jealousy, and is a rival to "The Four Daredevils'." It deals with the story of Lieutenant yon Harlen, who falls in love with a circus rider. Owing to 'the. lieutenant's, father refusing Ms consent to the marriage hu resigns his commission and joins the ciicus, where he soon becomes the idol of the public. Pose, the circus rider, maddened by jealousy, plans revenge on tho lieutenant for his attentions to another member of the circus. She "doctors" the lieutenant's horse, and whilst the lieutenant and his horse are suspended from the dome of the arena, the.horse becomes restive. Tins causes a sensational fall of horse and rider from the dome. Other dramatic, scenic, and humorous items will be included in to-night's'programme. The lung's Orchestra wilt supply the music. THE ADELPHI. There was a crowded house at the Adelpki last Saturday night, many hav* ing to be refused admission. 'Amongst the films receiving the most "cbminen3a~ tioii were "St. Francis of Assisi," "The Renunciation," (two dramatic pictures, dealing with most widely diverse subjects), "Dodging the Sheriff," and. "A CWiboyVj Best Girl." To-night, when commences the last week of the present proprietary of the Adelphi, will sec a completely new programme screened. The feature picture will be "In Robespierre's Time," an historical film of the days of tho French Revolution; It is said to be a. very fine example of tho kinematographer's art from a photographic point of view. Amongst other new films will hr> "A Good Tonib," "Alkali Ike's Love Affair," "In the Time of the Brigandage," "The Colonel's Escape," "The Pot of Jam;" "The Oyster Industry," and the latest Pathe Gazette.

SHORTT'S, THEATRE. In the complete change of programme which takes place at Shortt's Continuous Picture Theatre, the paramount screening will be a Kordisk attraction entitled "A Woman's Way." It is described as a thrilling , photo-play, which details a story in which a true woman pays ■• tho penalty of ' a mistake in her endeavour to save the reputation of the man rthom she loves. A banker is on the verge of rnin, ivhen a young man brings .£IOO,OOO to him to invest. By the aid of this money he tides over his difficulties, but it is at the expense of the life of the woman whom he was to marry, who apparently compromised herself in order to save him. Dying at the close of a eoneatibnal experience, her husband-to-be and the. lover watch the last happening in an extremely touching finale. A number of interesting supporting subjects are also announced.

THE DANDIES. This exceedingly clever company of entertainers appeared nt the Concert Chamber on Saturday night to a packed audience. The programme presented met with approval, and the artists had to respond to insistent demands for encore numbers. Mr.' Claude Dampier sang no fewer than ; eight songs during the evening. To-night tho company enters upon the last six r nights .of a most successful season with a complete change of programme, and each : night'entirely: new programmes will be presented'-in, addition to the many rc-qiiest-items.. The plan for the Inst six .nights is now on view at the Dresden, ■ and those desiring to make suro of seats arc advised to reserve them without delay; At the close of tho Wellington season, next Saturday, the company plays Blenheim and Picton, and leaves tor Adelaide on October 18 to appear at tho Ex-hibition-Grounds for a lengthy season.

. '. ~ CITY BAND'S CONCERT. On account of the extremely boisterous , and wet weather last evening there was only a sparse attendance at tho WellingBand's concert in the Town Hall. The band, which turned out in strong force, played a fino programme of irelldiversiiied music, under the 'baton of Lieutenant T. Herd. Among the pieces plftj-ed was Suppe's overture io "Banditen-' streich's," tho serenade "Thoughts of Love" (Beyer), the attractive fantasia "Alpine Echoes," a paraphrase on the hymn "Sun of My Soul" (Ritter), and tho marches "Under Freedom's Banner" and "Rearguard." Owing to tho illness of her husband, Mrs. (soprano) wastyot able to be present. Mr. W. H. Church, a serviceable baritone, sang "The Mighty Deep" and "Star of Bethleliam,-" and Mr. P. L. Minifie played a, piccolo solo. Mr. R. C. Hollow was tho accompanist.

FULLERS' PICTURES. This evening an entirely now series of Attractions, arriving direct from England, America, and the,: Continent will be put on by the Puller proprietary at the Skating Eink. Virion Street. Prominent among them will l,c a striking Edison release, "Napoleon at: St. Helena," giving , the beautiful story of tho great Emperor in His last dnys of captivity. It is, on the whole, the least-known part of the mighty soldier's career. The supporting subjects are stated to be very good ones, and include Patho Gazette, "Tho Speed Demon," "The Girl Bandit's Hoodoo," etc. Altogether two and a half hours of bright and healthy amusement are promised.